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The Northeast of Brazil: the rural areas as well as the smaller and larger cities are not main travel destinations for West-Europeans. Although the north-eastern coastal areas of Ceará and Bahia have seen a considerable boom in recent years, the tourist infrastructure of the country's inside as well as of coastal areas such as Piauí and Maranhão is hardly developed. We would like to give you some useful advice on how to make a trip to the Brazil's Northeast a comfortable one.
Immigration/Customs: For Swiss and EU citizens a passport is needed which is valid for six months over your stay. At the airport you receive a stamp and a "green" immigration form which you must hand in again when you leave the country. You are then allowed to stay in the country for three months. Local police in the county's capitals can extend this permit for another three months on request.
Travelling to Brazil: For travellers coming from Europe there are two ways to fly to Brazil's Northeast. First, all major airlines take you to either Sao Paolo or Rio de Janeiro, from where a domestic flight takes you to Fortaleza or Teresina. However, these journeys usually take up to twenty hours flight time. Secondly, the Portuguese airline Tap is the only airline that offers direct flights from Europe, i.e. Lisbon, to Fortaleza. The flight time here is roughly ten hours. These flight are reasonably priced, but difficult to get. So please, book your flight(s) in time.
Travelling to Parnaíba: The distance between Fortaleza and Parnaíba is 500 kilometres. Should you want to travel by car, it takes you seven hours to reach Parnaíba. If you take the bus/coach, it is nine hours. The distance between Teresina and Parnaíba is 350 kilometres. The bus/coach ride will take five hours. Due to bad roads the same amount of time is spent travelling by car.
There are two flights a week from Fortaleza and Teresina by Oceanair (www.oceanair.com.br)
Travelling within the country: You may either travel by bus/coach or rent a car. In both Fortaleza and Teresina there are many places where you can easily rent a car, in the former you may already do this at the airport. The Brazilian bus/coach system is very well organised. At the so called Rodoviarias (main bus stops) different bus/coach companies offer quick, comfortable and cheap lines to almost any destinations in the country.
Money: The Brazilian currency is the Real.
Exchange march 2005: 1 Euro = 3,50 Real ; 1 USDollar = 2,60 Real. When changing cash (preferably Dollars) or traveller cheques a high commission fee is often to be paid. It is slightly cheaper to use the cash machines with a VISA card. This way of getting money is sensible as carrying around large sums is not advisable for reasons of personal safety.
Personal Safety: Brazil's Northeast is reasonably safe, as long as one does not display luxury. Modest clothing is helpful. As far as the major cities such as Sao Paolo or Rio de Janeiro are concerned, it is more than advisable to hide watches, necklaces etc. as well as cameras. During the day one is safe as long as one does not leave the main tourist areas. Generally, travelling in rural areas and small cities can be compared to a stay in the South of Italy/Spain.
Climate: Brazil's Northeast is characterised by a mainly tropical/semi-arid climate. The rain period roughly lasts from November to May: short but heavy rain falls are to be expected. The average temperature is 29 Degrees Celsius. Generally, dry and hot weather prevails.
Health/Vaccinations: Generally, a trip to Brazil's Northeast does not bear many risks as far as your health is concerned. During the rain period rare cases of Dengue fever (no vaccination possible) as well as Yellow fever (the only possible vaccination) are being observed. Apart from that, the well-known rules for travelling to a tropical country have to be followed: Beware of drinking water (Drink bottled mineral water instead!) and fruit juices. However, the ice cubes in the fruit juices are usually of good quality. Still, health problems may arise in a tropical country. Drugstores are usually well-equipped when it comes down to diarrhoea and the likes. The health system in Brazil is to be considered quite good, in the main cities even very good.
Language: Should you travel individually a basic understanding of Brazilian Portuguese is necessary. English is hardly understood when you leave the main cities. But make an effort and learn some bits of the country's language - the locals will appreciate it.
Food and Drinks: Generally rice, beens, poultry and beef - and in coastal areas fish of course - are the main dishes in Brazil. The north-east Brazilian cuisine is quite palatable, but often spicy and fat. The fruits and "sucos" (fruit juices) are a true must in Brazil, the local beer is ok - and caipirinhas do not need further explanation. The more touristically developed a region is, the more generous are its gastronomic offerings. However, it is often a modest dish with rice, beens and roasted beef or chicken in the rural areas that is remembered by the traveller.
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